Chapter 4

When I regained consciousness, I was beside Haley. Strangely, he seemed unable to see me. Seventy-two hours had passed since he picked Mia up from the airport. Three days and nights, they hadn’t parted. Stranger still, they walked hand-in-hand towards a restaurant, seemingly oblivious to my presence. Perhaps Haley had seen the divorce papers I left on the nightstand. Well, strangers don’t need to greet each other. But I was inexplicably tethered by an invisible force, pulled wherever Haley went against my will. As Haley entered the private dining room, everyone inside froze. The dozen or so people were their mutual friends. Now, they all looked at the couple with awkward expressions. Haley put an arm around Mia and raised a glass casually. “My apologies for being late! This round’s on me. Enjoy yourselves!” His words only made the atmosphere more strained. One of Haley’s old friends hesitated. “Haley, it’s just… why are you here now...?” Haley slammed his glass down. “What do you mean? Can’t I come?!” “It’s not that… Are you… holding up okay?” “Couldn’t be better! Mia and I find our way back after all these years. You were all there! Today must be celebrated!” SMACK! The moment Haley finished speaking, a sharp slap landed on his face. The attacker was familiar. The girl seemed to be the heiress of a certain conglomerate. Her eyes red, she glared at Haley. “Haley! This is too much! We’re friends, I don’t want to be harsh, but you and Mia… are you this desperate?! Have you forgotten everything Lola did for you? Have some decency!” Her words made the whole room set down their glasses. Their gazes at Haley were complex —confusion, pity, scorn… Haley, however, acted as if nothing was wrong. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he downed his drink. Only when Mia tugged his sleeve did he seem to snap back to reality. “You all like Lola so much? Want me to call her over to join us?” “Haley! That’s enough!” For some reason, the girl and the entire room looked aghast. Haley suddenly laughed. “What’s gotten into you all today?” “It’s just a woman. Since when did you care so much about her?” “Relax, she does whatever I say. She’ll come crawling back within three days!” Mia discreetly pulled Haley back. “Haley, you’re drunk. Let me take you home.” “None of you believe me? Fine! I’ll call her right now!” Haley grabbed his phone and dialed my number with practiced ease. “Sorry! The phone you dialed is not be answered for the moment, please redial later…” After numerous attempts, Haley flung his phone down in frustration. Then he messaged me: Fine! Stay gone forever for all I care! Over the next few days, Haley called and messaged me obsessively. [I’m giving you one last chance. Get back here yourself, or I’ll divorce you for real.] [Ignoring me? Fine! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!] Haley called me over and over. But it was like shouting into a void. Then, as if just discovering the divorce papers, he tore them to shreds in rage. [No divorce without my signature! It means NOTHING!] [Lola, you can’t hide from me forever!] [You think you get to decide our marriage?] [Without my say-so, you’re my wife for life!] [Alright, sweetheart, I spoke too harshly that day, it was my fault… please come back…] From arrogance to exhaustion, Haley’s messages grew increasingly frantic. The last one included a drunken selfie. Dark circles under bloodshot eyes, unshaven, a pool of alarming blood beside shattered glass nearby. As if such a display would make me ache and return to him like before. But it was useless. Even after he threw out all my belongings, there was no response. Mia came by many times during this period, but he turned her away. His parents visited, to no avail. Company executives bombarded his phone; he ignored them. He let the company plummet, losing major clients. Until, about two weeks later, Haley seemed to snap out of it. He cleaned himself up meticulously and went to find Mia. Every day, impeccably dressed in suits, he escorted Mia to business dinners, galas, letting the press sensationalize their appearances. Soon, the tale of Haley and Mia’s epic love story dominated headlines. Some offered blessings, others sneered. Gossip reporters multiplied. Some exposed Mia’s past marriage and alleged abuse; others called her the other woman. Gradually, Haley’s business rivals shifted public focus, pouring mud on Mia. They accused her of wrecking my marriage, of knowingly being the mistress, of being promiscuous. Strangely, Haley seemed deaf to it all, offering no defense. Mia stopped leaving her apartment, crying, begging him to clear her name. Haley just scoffed. “Is what they’re saying… untrue?” Mia froze, staring at him in disbelief. The cracks in their relationship were showing. Haley’s decade-long love for Mia seemed to crumble under the barrage of gossip. He became obsessed with reading media coverage and comments about them. Until one day, a user named “Lucy” posted a ten-page expose condemning him— detailing our marriage and his infidelity. The post went viral. It was written by my best friend. Haley had often used Mia to provoke me, and within days, I’d always forgive him, even begging him back. Except this time. Lucy’s appearance reminded him. That day, Haley drove 200 kilometers like a madman, bursting into Lucy’s home. “Where’s Lola?” “Where are you hiding Lola?” “Is she here?!” Lucy slapped Haley hard. “Are you insane?!” “Get out!” Haley staggered, then grabbed Lucy’s arm more violently. “Lola! Give her back to me!” Lucy laughed bitterly. “Gone mad?” “Lola’s dead! You killed her!”